, 1887-03-23

In several respects the island of St. Croix
feels the want of exact statistical data.
Not least is tAis the case regarding the medico-
social department. The use and Importance
of such information is indispensable, and the
want Of knowledge often betraysitselfinuns
and wrong conclusions, frequently arrived at
by loose estimate. This f. i. applies to the
relations Of births and deaths, i~nfantile NOR
tality, labour questions, and many, many
other relations. 1t is to be expected that
the drafts of ordinance now before the Coun-
and deaths will pass, whereby much may be
gained.
In my capacity Of Landphysicus I beg to
offer the following information on some sta
tistics of the island, which may not perhaps
I. The MidwVery Department.
The island is divided in 9 districts, in each
Of which is appointed q district midwife.
Hereby considerable progress has been made
since the time, when the island had only 2
examined and qualified midwives, one in
each town, whereas the population at large
had recourse to ignorant women in cases Of
birth. Only since September 1885 have all
8 districts been filed, and the year 1886
therefore becomes the first year, for which
Statistics can be given.
In the year 1886 the 9 District idwives
have reported to my Office to have attended
to 761 women in childbirth. Estimated by
the census of 1880, according to which the
inhabitants here numbered 1890, the num-
Der of women, that gave birth in 1886 consti-
tutes between Al and $4,000 (per thousand)
+ ~ d. 4loco TO 1900
have given birth to IT'S children, for IA
women have brought forth twins. The num-
Der Of children born therefore amounts to a
little more than 42oIco OF the whole popula"
ton.
Altho' this certainly is a high birth rate
in Denmark the annual birth rate with very
small fluctuations has for many years aver
aged 32oLoo-I think however there is reason
to believe, that the birth rate of this island on
the average exceeds 42o/oo, as [ do not feel
sure that all cases Of births have come to the
knowledge Of the midwives and have been
attended to by these, and that consequently
all births have been reported. 1t would be
very interesting to learn what the reports of
births to the police offices show and the re-
ports of the parsons concerning the number Of
children christened in 1886. If the above
mentioned draft concerning births be adopt
ed, it may in the future be of service to COM
pare the reports to the police Offices with
the midwives' reports, as they may supple
ment and correct each other.
Anyhow 400 90 is a high birth-rate, and
altho', as we'll known, a high infant mortall-
ty always accompanies a high birth rate, it is
evident, that ceteris paribus, the population
in St. Croix ought to increase and not to de-
crease. Hitherto the former has not been
the case, and it is of course much too early
to say, whether the regular attendance OF
qualified midwives will influence this ques-
ton. The main cause of the large infant
mortality-and thereby to o great extent OF
the decrease in populations the considera-
BILE amount of illegitimate births.
OMt of the 761 women only 278 were mar
ried, equal to $500; but 483 were unmar-
ried, equal to $500; therefore but little
more than ! were married, nearly 8 unmar-
ried.
Out of the IT'S children born, 389 were
male. and 1856 female children. This is IN
conformity with the general rule, that there
are born (but also that there die) more male
children than female, but the difference in
1886 was very slight: for every 100 girls